Anti-racism commission condemns response to Muslim field prayer: “SVP’s tweet is racist and inflammatory”

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Muslims around the world celebrated the Bayram Festival of Sacrifice this week – including in the military. At the request of some soldiers, Muris Begovic (41), the first army chaplain with a Muslim background, invited for a Muslim field prayer for the first time on Wednesday.

The image of the members of the army stooping and praying towards Mecca provoked strong reactions from the SVP and its representatives. The fact that the army is also concerned about their Muslim relatives is a scandal in the eyes of the right-wing party. “What’s next? Child marriages, Sharia courts, stoning?” reads a message SVP Switzerland has circulated on Twitter and other social media platforms. Connected, of course, to a call to elect SVP.

Of course, the Aargauer SVP country councilor Andreas Glarner (60) did not have to be asked twice. “So now the army is definitely lost,” he tweeted.

Tweet hate

Instead of the hoped for approval from other outraged people, the SVP itself was heavily criticized for attacking the military. For example, on Twitter there were comments from users reminding the SVP that there is freedom of religion in Switzerland, including in the army. The party is accused of violating this constitutionally guaranteed fundamental right.

That praying Muslims are generally associated with stoning and forced marriages by the largest Swiss party is also condemned by the Federal Commission against Racism. “The SVP’s tweet or campaign is racist and inflammatory,” the committee said when asked by Blick. He generalized “in an extremely tasteless way, thus fueling hatred and negative prejudice against Muslims in Switzerland”.

The Committee does not want to assess whether the SVP is committing a criminal offence. The competent law enforcement authorities should do this.

Officers Association criticizes SVP

Criticism of the SVP response also comes from the ranks of the military. Dominik Knill (64) is president of the Swiss Officers’ Society (SOG). The SOG is “against any discrimination and exclusion of members of the military because of their beliefs,” he stressed. “Any political instrumentalization of religious acts leading to stigmatization of religious freedom” must be avoided.

Freedom of belief is explicitly stated in the Army’s service regulations. “Members of the military respect other people’s beliefs. They avoid anything that hurts the religious feelings of their comrades or the population,” says Article 63 of the regulations. Perhaps the SVP should look into it.

Source:Blick